Kane secures a 2nd place finish in the day’s final race, Airwaves BMW stay atop of the HiQ Teams Championship, while Steven Kane and Mat Jackson find themselves first and second in the Independent Drivers Championship and third and fifth in the overall BTCC Drivers Championship, after three exhilarating rounds today at Oulton Park in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
The day’s first race saw Jackson and Kane start from 9th and 11th on the grid, but with the sun blazing and a warm track enhancing grip levels, the duo used every inch of tarmac available, wringing the necks of their BMWs to consistently move up the order and increase their points tally; both drivers gaining 5 places over the race distance.
This race will be remembered for the nerve-shredding tussle between two real BTCC talents, Mat Jackson and Jason Plato. Jackson clung to the tail of the Chevrolet like an Airwaves chewing gum and on lap 14 the Warwickshire man made his move and overtook, in the process pushing Plato wide. The Airwaves team were pleased with his 4th and Steven Kane’s 6th place finish, especially with a 27kg success ballast on board.
Race two was just as toughly contested, and both Jackson and Kane were right in the thick of it. Kane, starting in 6th, took advantage of Shedden’s misfortune to take fifth, while Jackson, who started in 4th, now had to deal with an aggressive and eager Plato on his tail, and the Chevrolet did well to gain a place in a race he would go on to win. By the end Jackson pulled in another 8 points finishing in 4th spot; Kane, right behind his teammate, finished in 5th.
Kane was the star today for the Airwaves BMW team; he secured his fifth podium finish of the season, coming home in second place after an almighty and fairly fought exchange with Matt Neal’s Honda. Kane was on cracking form and stunned the capacity crowd, he was placed inside the top three at every of the four circuits so far visited on the BTCC calendar.
His BMW may have ended the race battered and bruised but he can take a great deal of pride, as well as 12 championship points, away from the Cheshire race track. His efforts leave him at the top of the Independent Drivers Championship and third overall in the BTCC Drivers Standings.
Mat Jackson was less fortunate and found himself out of luck in the middle of a group of uncompromising and hardened BTCC racers. Try as he might the overtaking opportunities just didn’t arrive and he did well to hold off Collard’s BMW and finished 7th, the second fastest BMW on the grid behind his teammate.
Jackson’s 20 point haul along with Kane’s 23 points are the key to Airwaves BMW’s continued presence at the top of the HiQ Teams and Independent Drivers Championship.
Airwaves BMW Team driver Steven Kane said:
“The boys have done a fantastic job and really kicked it up a gear. Five podiums this season on the fourth BTCC weekend is better than I could have expected. The last race today was awesome, if I’d have pushed harder earlier then maybe I could have won it, but I’m not going to complain with a 2nd place finish. Croft is the next challenge and I’m ready to go for it.”
Airwaves BMW Team driver Mat Jackson said:
“This weekend we were very unlucky, I was always in the wrong place at the wrong time and I lost positions because of it. The car was very quick and it’s competitive – things just didn’t go in my favour today. 20 points is a good points total all things considered but the car is right on the pace and if we had a bit of luck, I could have been on the podium today. I’ll be back at Croft, raring to go.”
Airwaves BMW Team Manager Oliver Collins said:
“Another solid points scoring weekend for both drivers. They both drove brilliantly today amongst a very competitive group of drivers. To come away from all four race meetings leading the Teams Championship is a credit to the whole team who once again worked fantastically all weekend”